Chicago's skyline is currently missing one of its longstanding residents as the Spirit of Progress statue, the Roman goddess Diana, was carefully removed from her perch atop the former Montgomery Ward building for some much-needed repairs. Having weathered the Windy City's storms and sun for nearly a century, this iconic bronze figure was taken down this past Saturday, with plans for her return next spring, according to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The statue, standing an impressive 22.5 feet tall, has boldly held a torch high and pointed a caduceus since 1929 at 758 N. Larrabee St., now a condominium complex. Overseeing its restoration is the Conservation of Sculpture and Objects Studio, stationed in the comfy suburbs of Lake Forest, which will provide the necessary repairs to maintain the landmark's grandeur, as reported by ABC 7 Chicago.

In addition to reviving the Spirit of Progress, the One River Place Condominium Association is on a mission to upkeep and safeguard the entirety of its historic building. "We are proud to be maintaining this important aspect of the Chicago skyline," the board and homeowners expressed in a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. Their dedication aims not only to preserve a piece of art but also to honor the building's storied presence in Chicago's architectural tapestry; an edifice that has stood the test of time since it was first erected in 1927 along the Chicago River's east bank.

Teasing out the statue's backstory reveals ties to another figure, a now-absent gilded weather vane named Progress Lighting the Way for Commerce, which originally crowned the Montgomery Ward offices on Michigan Avenue. Lost to a time when its tower was deemed unsafe in 1947, the Spirit of Progress takes visual cues from its forebear and is shrouded in intrigue. Joseph Conradi's name has been whispered down the family line as the potential sculptor, but George Mulligan's moniker is etched into the photo captions from 1929, as the Chicago Sun-Times highlights.